More than 126 million women entrepreneurs were starting or running new businesses in 67 economies in 2012, according to the GEM 2012 Women’s Report, the most comprehensive research ever conducted about the entrepreneurial activity of women across the globe. An estimated 48 million female entrepreneurs and 64 million female established business owners currently employ one or more people in their businesses; seven million female entrepreneurs and five million established business owners are expected to grow their ventures by at least six employees in five years.

Still, the Report found that much needs to be done for women entrepreneurs to further boost and grow their businesses. Women entrepreneurs need more resources and better programs to:

• build new collaborations and leverage ideas,
• develop entrepreneurial abilities and attitudes, and
• access the means necessary to expand their businesses and generate jobs.

In 2012, an estimated 126 million women were starting or running new
businesses in 67 economies around the world. In addition, an estimated 98
million were running established businesses.

These women are not only creating jobs for themselves and their co-founders, but they also employ others. A projected 48 million female entrepreneurs and 64 million female business owners currently employ one or more people in their businesses. In addition, these women plan to grow their businesses. A predicted seven million female entrepreneurs and five million female established business owners plan to grow their businesses by at least six employees over the next five years.

What is the Global Women Report?

The GEM Global Women’s Report offers an in-depth view of women who start and run businesses around the world. It provides both a broadly global and a comprehensively detailed foundation for guiding future research, policy decision making and the design of initiatives and programs that can enhance awareness about women entrepreneurship. As such, this report brings a greater understanding of women’s entrepreneurship to a diverse audience of researchers, policy makers, educators and practitioners.

The ultimate aim is to foster an environment that encourages women to see entrepreneurship as a viable career option and to equip them with the tools to create the type and quality of businesses they wish to build, as well as create broader awareness among stakeholders that will support their efforts.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) has gained widespread recognition as the most authoritative longitudinal study of entrepreneurship in the world. It accomplishes this effort through the collaborative work of a consortium of national teams consisting of academic researchers from across the globe. Each national team oversees an annual survey of atleast 2,000 working-age adults (ages 18–64). Starting with just 10 developed economies in 1999, the project has grown to involve 99 economies over 14 annual cycles. In 2012 alone, GEM surveyed 198,000 adults in 691 economies.